Six Nations: Ellis Genge hits back at England’s critics

Former Ireland and British and Irish Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll was also unimpressed.

“I just don’t get it, I don’t know why there isn’t a cohesion,” he told ITV Sport., external

“It is stodgy, it is kick tennis, it is quite negative and it is fine to eke out one-point victories, but when those games go against you – which they will at times – you are going to get huge negative feedback.”

Scotland were ahead of England in a raft of attacking stats, such as metres made and line breaks, while France, who also lost by a point at Allianz Stadium in the previous round, butchered several try-scoring chances.

However, Genge insists England should be judged by results that leave them in touch with the top of the table with two games to play.

“It’s like you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” he added.

“In the last 18 months, every time we’ve lost by a point we’ve been slandered, and on the weekend we win by a point and it’s the same old story.

“Do you want to be part of a team that wins every single game by one point?

“Or would you rather be part of a team that loses every single week, 40 points to 39?

“I know what type of team I want to be.”

England take on Italy next on Sunday, 9 March. They have beaten the Azzurri in all 31 of the teams’ previous meetings, but the visitors were only three points better in Rome last year.

Genge says he and his team-mates are preparing for another tough encounter, despite Italy conceding 11 tries in a 73-24 defeat by France last time out.

“They beat Wales in Wales, they took a few scalps, so I don’t think they’re a team that people think is a guaranteed win anymore,” said the Bristol prop.